Executive Functioning: What’s the ‘coaching’ about?
By Angela Ventrice B.A. (Hons), B.Ed. and Zoe Hart, BSW
Understanding Executive Function Skills
Executive Function skills are the mental processes in our prefrontal cortex that play a part in our ability to initiate, plan, organize, shift (e.g., transitions, flexibility), regulate (emotional control), remember instructions, and pay attention. In other words, these skills help us manage daily tasks, solve problems, adapt to change, and even reach our goals!
Executive function skills are essential for learning and development. Did you know that our executive function skills don’t fully develop until our mid-twenties?!
Building Stronger Foundations: Executive Function Coaching
Executive Function coaching focuses on these executive function skills to help develop and strengthen them. Research shows that early support is essential for children and teens to build these skills, as they are linked to improved academic performance, better mental health, and stronger relationships. Without adequate support for these skills, individuals may face challenges, such as difficulty managing tasks, emotional outbursts, or struggles with decision-making.
In a nut shell, strengthening these skills early can set the stage for long-term success (Blair, 2016). There are other important research findings around the challenges children and youth may experience when they have less developed executive function skills (Child Mind Institute, 2024). Areas include lower school performance, increased conflict with peers and with families, behavioural difficulties, and the development of mental health concerns.
Many clinicians offer executive function support and counselling through a variety of different methods. By working to identify one’s strengths and areas for improvement, executive function coaching supports developing strategies and appropriate ways to help improve these skills. Our clinicians and therapists offer executive function coaching founded on a strengths-based approach and tailored to meet each child’s individual needs.
Mind Flex: Our Approach to Building Key Skills for Success
Our “Mind Flex” program is designed to support your child in developing key skills to navigate academic and personal challenges more effectively. Through interactive activities and practical strategies, participants will work on enhancing their planning, organization, and time management skills, along with fostering emotional regulation and problem-solving abilities.
What Your Child Will Gain:
Strategies for Goal Setting & Planning
Tools for Emotional Awareness & Regulation
Techniques to Sustain Attention & Develop Meta-Cognition
Approaches to Improve Flexibility & Problem-Solving
Skills for Organization & Time Management
Parent/Caregiver Involvement:
Parent/caregiver support and engagement are important parts of any therapeutic intervention for youth. The Mind Flex program begins with a joint session with parents to discuss goals and set expectations and parents play a key role throughout the program by supporting youths' progress and reinforcing their skills at home.
*Some parents wonder about their own executive functioning, here is a fun executive function ‘test’ you can take to see whether you may have some challenges with executive function skills.
Bottom line: Anyone can learn and strengthen executive function skills, which will contribute to optimal brain functioning and build confidence over time. Remember: learning is a process-based journey.
Sources
https://childmind.org/article/helping-kids-who-struggle-with-executive-functions/
